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BIOGRAPHICAL  SERIES  No.  7. 


January,  1841. 


July,  1893. 


EMMA  OSBORNE  AMBROS 


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OF  THE  WEST. 


“  They  have  but  left  our  weary  ways 
To  live  in  memory  here,  in  heaven  by  love  and  praise. 


*  CHICAGO: 

O AMES  GUILBERT,  PRINTER. 

1894. 


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WOMANS  BAPTIST  FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY  » 


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BIOGRAPHICAL  SERIES  No.  7. 


January,  1841. 


July,  1893. 


13"® 


SBORNE  AMBR 


JJ, 


woman’s  baptist  foreign  missionary  society 

OF  THE  WEST. 


“  They  have  but  left  our  weary  ways 
To  live  in  memory  here,  in  heaven  by  love  and  praise. 


CHICAGO : 

JAMES  GUILBERT,  PRINTER. 


EMMA  0.  AMBROSE 


i. 

All  hearts  grew  warmer  in  the  presence 
Of  one  who,  seeking  not  her  own, 

Gave  freely  for  the  love  of  giving, 

Nor  reaped  for  self  the  harvest  sown. 

Thy  greeting  smile  was  pledge  and  prelude 
Of  generous  deeds  and  kindly  words. 

In  thy  large  heart  were  fair  guest  chambers 
Open  to  sunrise  and  the.  birds. 

The  task  was  thine  to  mould  and  fashion 
Life’s  plastic  newness  into  grace, 

To  make  the  boyish  heart  heroic  . 

And  light  with  thought  the  maiden’s  face. 

Thine  be  the  quiet  habitations, 

Tliine  the  green  pastures,  blossom  sown, 

And  smiles  of  saintly  recognition 
As  sweet  and  tender  as  thy  own. 

Thou  comest  not  from  the  hush  and  shadow 
To  meet  us,  but  to  thee  we  come; 

With  thee  we  never  can  be  strangers, 

And  where  thou  art  would’st  still  be  home. 

In  former  days,  the  lives  of  heroic  achievement  have  been 
largely  those  of  men,  but  in  this  day  the  call  comes  to  woman 
to  turn  her  back  on  a  life  of  aimlessness  and  indefinite  wait¬ 
ing,  and  she  listens  and  takes  up  a  work  of  definite  aim  and 
purpose.  This  is  one  of  the  finest  phases  of  the  mighty 
many-sided  movement  of  our  age.  There  can  be  no  doubt 
that  these  noble  lives  will  have  increasing  recognition  and 
honor;  and  who  are  more  worthy  of  this  honor  and  recogni- 


4 


tion  than  the  women  who  are  lifting  the  heathen  world  out 
of  the  depths,  by  lifting  the  world’s  girlhood  and  womanhood, 
its  wifehood  and  motherhood,  and  widowhood,  up  to  the 
realization  of  God’s  ideal  woman,  clothed  with  the  sunlight 
of  sanctity,  pure  with  utmost  approach  to  purity,  sweet  with 
unselfish  lives,  and  strong  for  the  march  of  onward  progress. 

She  was  a  sweet-faced,  low- voiced  woman,  whose  gentle 
manner  drew  one  to  her  at  once,  and  whose  life  seemed  devo¬ 
ted  to  helping  any  and  every  one  with  whom  she  came  in 
contact. 

This  is  the  portrait  drawn  of  Emma  Osborne  Ambrose,  at 
the  time  when  her  strong  desire  for  active  service  in  lands 
beyond  the  sea  was  about  to  know  its  fulfillment.  Erom  the 
loving  tribute  of  her  brother,  James  Clement  Ambrose,  we 
learn  something  of  the  lovely  obedient  childhood  of  this  life 
which  began  in  Sharon,  Michigan,  January  2,  1841.  He 
says,  “Emma  being  only  three  years  my  junior,  her  infant 
doings  did  not  impress  me,  till  in  her  second  year,  when  our 
father  gave  up  pioneer  merchandise  in  Michigan,  and  with 
wife  and  three  children  journeyed  by  wagon  train  to  Illinois 
where  six  years  were  spent.  Then,  when  she  was  only  seven 
years  old,  our  father’s  loss  of  health  led  the  family  back  to 
Sharon,  and  to  the  farm  which  had  been  retained,  and  there 
in  the  midst  of  the  toils  and  pleasures  of  farm  and  country 
life,  Emma  passed  her  youth  and  early  school  days.  Our 
parents  were  devoted  Baptists,  as  well  as  Christians.  The 
nearest  Baptist  service  being  at  Manchester,  four  miles 
away,  the  entire  family  regularly  made  Sabbath  pilgrimage 
thither.  It  was  there  under  the  warm  preaching  of  Elder 
Knapp  that  my  sister,  at  the  tender  age  of  nine,  made  clear 


5 


confession  of  her  child  faith  in  Christ,  and  was  baptised  in 
the  river  Raisan.  A  most  attentive  daughter,  watchful  to 
save  tired  parents  a  step,  or  a  care,  nursing  them  in  sickness, 
cheering  them  in  toil,  ever  a  helpful  and  forgiving  sister, 
kind  to  all,  and  beloved  by  all  about  her.  I  love  her  as  a 
model,  not  less  than  as  a  sister.” 

From  the  country  school  house  on  the  hill,  she  went  to  the 
State  Normal  School  at  Ypsilanti,  where  she  graduated  in 
March,  1863 — a  good  student.  She  taught  a  year,  and  then 
returned  to  her  home,  the  abiding  aid  and  joy  of  the  narrowed 
circle,  both  brothers  having  married  and  gone.  The  fathers 
death  occurred  in  1868,  and  the  following  winter,  selling  the 
farm,  Emma  and  her  mother  moved  to  Omaha,  the  home  of 
both  her  brothers.  She  learned  the  art  of  book-binding,  and 
has  found  the  knowledge  very  helpful  in  her  mission  work  in 
Burma.  After  a  few  years  the  mother  became  a  confirmed 
invalid,  requiring  and  receiving  the  devoted  care  of  her 
daughter  for  two  years. 

In  those  sad  days  they  considered  together  mission  work, 
as  that  to  which  the  daughter  would  turn  when  the  mother 
would  no  longer  need  her  tender  watchful  care.  When  the 
end  came,  Emma  found  peace  and  satisfaction  in  giving  her¬ 
self  unreservedly  to  her  chosen  work. 


II. 


“  I  am  glad  a  task  to  me  is  given 
To  labor  at  day  by  day; 

For  it  brings  me  health  and  strength  and  hope, 

And  I  cheerfully  learn  to  say, 

Head,  you  may  think;  Heart,  you  may  feel: 

But,  Hand,  you  shall  work  alway. 

Miss  Ambrose  offered  herself  to  the  Woman’s  Baptist  For¬ 
eign  Missionary  Society  of  the  West,  and  was  appointed  July 
9,  1878,  to  work  at  Toungoo,  Burma,  among  the  Bghai 
Karens.  She  was  Nebraska’s  first  single  lady  missionary. 
She  sailed  October  5  from  New  York  and  reached  Burma  on 
her  birthday,  January  2,  1879. 

One  who  loved  her  says,  “She  seemed  frail  for  the  voyage, 
and  yet  made  it  without  an  hour  of  sickness,  and  grew 
stronger  on  the  way.  She  seemed  equally  frail  for  the  work 
that  lay  before  her — yet  in  a  little  while  she  wrote  of  long 
pony  rides  through  the  jungles,  climbing  mountain  steeps, 
walking  along  ledges  so  narrow  as  to  make  riding  dangerous, 
and  camping  by  night  in  tropic  forests  that  echoed  the  cry 
of  wild  beasts,  and  shed  giant  spiders  around  the  tents,  yet 
she  has  never  expressed  fear,  and  has  never  been  harmed.” 

She  became  at  once  the  companion  and  assistant  of  Miss 
Eastman,  who  had  been  already  at  Toungoo  five  years,  and 
thev  soon  loved  each  other  as  sisters.  In  her  first  letters 

%j 

home,  she  says,  “My  heart  turns  in  gratitude  to  the  kind 
Father  who  has  led  me  here,  for  in  looking  over  the  past,  as 
well  as  the  present,  I  find  many  causes  for  assurance  that  His 

6 


7 


hand  has  been  gently  guiding  me  all  the  way.  I  am  very 
happy  here  and  take  great  pleasure  in  loving  and  being  loved 
by  the  native  children."  Thus,  busy  with  her  Karen  teacher, 
finding  nothing  but  pleasure  in  the  study  of  the  language, 
she  began  her  labors  with  the  English  classes,  in  reading, 
spelling  and  writing.  As  her  knowledge  of  the  language 
increased,  she  took  charge  of  a  class  of  fourteen  large  boys 
and  girls  in  Karen,  and  while  feeling  her  incompetency  to 
converse  with  them,  still  felt  that  the  exercise  was  a  benefit 
to  her.  The  housekeeping  was  in  her  charge,  and  having  a 
drunken  cook  the  work  was  doubly  difficult.  “You  may 
wonder,"  she  says,  “why  we  do  not  change,  but  all,  unless 
Christians,  are  like  this  one."  We  can  readily  understand 
that  she  had  no  leisure  moments  for  home  sickness,  when 
there  were  sixty-six  scholars  in  school,  and  forty  preachers 
and  teachers  in  the  jungle,  constantly  seeking  for  advice, 
money  and  medicines,  in  the  absence  of  the  missionary  in 
charge.  The  privilege  of  going  among  the  mountain  people, 
and  gaining  an  insight  into  their  daily  life,  gave  her  much 
pleasure,  and  the  fatigue  of  reaching  them  was  always  for¬ 
gotten  in  the  hearty  welcome  she  received.  In  some  of  the 
villages,  not  a  girl  was  found,  large  or  small,  who  could  read. 
As  she  marked  the  difference  in  the  countenances  of  those 
who  had  been  taught  and  those  who  had  not,  she  was  fully 
convinced  that  school  work  was  well  worth  the  doing. 

On  Mr.  Bunker’s  return  from  America,  he  brought  a  print¬ 
ing  press  on  which  the  Karen  hymn-book  was  printed  ;  the 
folding,  stitching,  and  some  of  the  binding  was  done  by  a 
class  of  girls  and  boys,  under  Miss  Ambrose’s  tuition  and 
supervision.  She  gave  from  one  to  two  hours  daily  to  the 
printing  department,  and  in  pressure  of  work  even  more. 


8 


Through  all  these  years  there  was  much  to  encourage  her 
in  her  school  work,  for  the  scholars,  as  a  rule,  were  obedient 
and  disposed  to  do  their  best. 

A  little  mission  sprang  up  among  the  pupils.  It  was  pro¬ 
posed  by  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  girls  that  every  week, 
each  one  should  lay  aside  one  pice  (the  fraction  of  a  cent)  or 
more  for  Christ.  The  proposition  was  heartily  received,  and 
every  Wednesday  evening,  after  meeting,  the  gifts  were  laid 
upon  the  table  by  the  willing  givers,  amounting  from  eight 
annas  to  a  rupee.  God’s  blessing  must  surely  rest  upon  such 
mites  coming  from  His  little  ones.  Miss  Ambrose  says,  “The 
Karens  are  doing  nobly  in  self-support ;  when  one  looks  at 
the  poverty  with  which  they  are  surrounded  on  the  moun¬ 
tains.  They  wage  a  hand  to  hand  conflict  with  the  evil  One, 
but  God  is  helping  them.  We  go  out  every  evening,  when 
the  people  are  gathered  in  little  groups  around  their  camp 
fires,  the  women  spinning  or  winding  cotton,  the  men  smok¬ 
ing  and  talking  ;  we  each  take  an  interpreter  and  go  in  dif¬ 
ferent  directions  ;  much  personal  work  is  done  and  souls  are 
won  to  Christ.” 

Two  years  went  on ;  labors  and  cares  multiplied,  and 
though  the  willing  spirit  did  not  tire  or  faint,  bodily  strength 
failed,  and  it  became  evident  that  a  change  was  necessary. 
After  vainly  struggling  against  weariness  and  disease,  she 
reluctantly  turned  her  face  toward  her  native  land  in  Novem¬ 
ber  1886.  She  attended  the  16th  and  17th  annual  meetings 
of  the  Society,  visited  many  churches  in  behalf  of  the  work 
abroad,  and  awakened  a  deeper  interest  in  the  service  to 
which  she  had  consecrated  her  life.  With  restored  health 
she  returned  to  the  people  of  her  choice  in  the  fall  of  1889. 


III. 


“If  God  gives  me  work  to  do,  I  will  thank  Him  that  He  has  given 
me  a  strong  arm  ;  and  if  He  gives  me  danger  to  brave,  I  will  bless  Him 
that  He  has  not  made  me  without  courage  ;  but  I  will  go  down  on  my 
knees  and  beseech  Him  humbly  to  make  me  fit  for  my  task.” 

Dr.  Bunker,  who  was  associated  with  Miss  Ambrose  in  both 
school  and  jungle  work  for  nearly  thirteen  years,  and  came 
to  know  her  intimately,  gives  strong  and  valuable  testimony 
in  respect  to  her  work  and  life.  He  says,  “She  had  peculiar 
talent  fonher  work,  and  with  a  spirit  of  Christ-like  love  for 
even  the  most  unlovely. 

“In  attempting  to  give  some  idea  of  her  work  it  will  be 
necessary  to  glance  at  the  character  of  the  field  of  her  labors, 
and  the  people  among  whom  she  wrought.  The  Toungoo 
mission  field  among  the  Karen  is  quite  unlike  any  other  in 
Burma.  The  head  station  is  in  Toungoo  City,  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Sittang  river.  Away  to  the  west,  about  twenty 
miles  distant,  rises  the  first  range  of  the  Toungoo  mountains. 
These  mountain  ranges  run  north  and  south,  and  among 
them,  in  an  area  larger  than  the  State  of  Connecticut,  are 
scattered  the  seventy-seven  churches  in  the  Bghai  Karen 
Mission.  To  reach  these  mountains,  a  journey  across  a  hot 
plain  must  be  made  ;  then  commences  about  the  hardest 
travel  that  can  be  found  in  any  mission  field  in  the  world. 
The  mountain  slopes  are  precipitous  and  are  covered  with  a 
heavy  forest  growth.  When  the  narrow  paths  are  shut  in  by 
this  dense  growth,  and  as  often  happens,  the  sun  beats  down 

9 


10 


on  the  weary  traveller,  one  can  form  some  idea  of  the  intense 
fatigue  of  such  travel.  Seldom  does  one  find  a  stretch  of 
even  comparatively  level  road  on  which  to  rest.  It  is  either 
up  or  down,  with  deep  ravines,  through  which  dash  mountain 
streams,  where  are  dangerous  fords,  or  still  more  dangerous 
bridges.  The  villages  are  from  two  to  six  hours  travel,  or 
even  more,  distant  from  each  other. 

“The  people  among  whom  she  wrought  are  quite  unlike  the 
orderly  and  quiet  kind  one  meets  with  in  America.  In  their 
wild  state  they  are  most  degraded  and  ignorant.  The  native 
Christians  have  made  remarkable  progress,  yet  they  have 
many  ways  most  repulsive  to  a  refined  and  cultivated  woman. 
On  the  other  hand,  they  are  most  anxious  to  learn,  and  are 
very  grateful  for  all  the  help  they  receive.  They  are  indeed 
children,  and  require  great  patience  in  teaching  them — they 
learn,  however,  to  love  deeply  and  truly  those  whom  they 
have  come  to  trust.  Their  continual  gazing,  for  they  are 
very  curious,  is  a  great  strain  on  the  nerves,  yet  their  child¬ 
like  gratitude  softens  not  a  little  the  difficulties  of  the  work 
among  them. 

“This  is  the  field  and  these  are  the  people  among  whom 
Miss  Ambrose  spent  the  decade  of  her  missionary  life. 

“In  many  ways  the  school  differs  from  the  jungle  work,  the 
former  occupying  eight  or  nine  months  of  the  year,  and  the 
latter  the  remainder.  Every  church  is  supposed  to  sustain  a 
village  school,  and  these  schools  send  their  best  pupils  to  the 
training  school  at  the  home  station  during  the  rains,  when  it 
is  impossible  for  the  missionaries  to  engage  in  jungle  work. 
As  the  rainy  season  is  by  far  the  most  trying  of  the  whole 
year,  the  danger  to  life  and  health  are  greatest  in  that  season. 


11 


This  training  school  receives  its  scores  of  boys  and  girls  from 
the  village  school  in  May.  They  come  down  untrained  and 
uncouth,  with  many  of  their  heathenish  habits  still  clinging 
to  them.  The  girls  must  be  taught  everything  that  those 
who  are  to  be  the  future  teachers,  and  pastor’s  wives,  ought 
to  know.  Their  old  habits  of  untlirift,  dirt  and  dullness 
must  be  unlearned.  This  is  a  herculanean  task.  A  heathen 
is  almost  everything  that  is  bad,  and  even  when  they  become 
Christians,  old  habits  are  not  easily  subdued.  The  grace, 
patience  and  Christian-like  love  required  to  deal  with  three¬ 
score  such  girls  cannot  be  readily  realized,  save  by  a  long 
experience.  Miss  Ambrose  was  peculiarly  fitted  for  this  work; 
she  had  a  love  for  this  little  flock,  that  knew  no  change. 
She  had  great  tact  in  winning  and  keeping  the  love  of  her 
girls,  a  most  necessary  qualification  where  sharp  discipline  is 
often  imperative. 

“Her  executive  ability  we  have  seldom  seen  excelled;  equal¬ 
led  only  by  the  orderly  and  systematic  arrangement  of  her 
work.  For  years  she  had  charge  of  the  industrial  classes 
among  the  girls,  and  of  the  book  department  of  the  mission. 
The  systematic  manner  in  which  she  conducted  this  school  was 
a  constant  source  of  satisfaction  to  her  associates.  The  annual 
display  of  work  made  by  her  girls,  and  offered  for  sale  among 
their  parents,  was  very  attractive,  and  the  proceeds  of  these 
sales  helped  the  school  not  a  little.  Her  jungle  work,  not 
one  whit  less  than  her  school  work,  was  characterized  by  great 
usefulness.  She  brought  all  her  sanctified  gifts  to  that  work 
also,  most  heartily  as  unto  Christ.  This  work  has  peculiar 
trials,  for  the  difficulties  of  travel,  already  mentioned,  the 
work  begins  when  one  is  least  prepared  for  it,  because  of  the 
weariness  from  the  school  work  just  completed. 


12 


“At  every  village,  Miss  Ambrose  would  be  surrounded  by 
women  and  children,  often  dirty,  repulsive,  full  of  sickness 
and  sores  in  many  instances,  and  always  with  needs  of  every 
kind  appealing  for  help.  One  of  the  saddest  sights  she  met 
was  the  constant  presence  of  little  children  in  a  most  pitiable 
condition  for  want  of  motherly  care ;  naked  and  cold,  soiled 
and  unsightly,  and  covered  with  sores ;  neglected,  hungry 
and  almost  unloved: — certainly  without  any  intelligent  mo¬ 
ther-love. 

“Her  nights  would  be  spent  within  hearing  of  the  pitiful 
wailings  of  these  innocents.  It  requires  great  fortitude  and 
patience  to  be  able  to  behold  such  sights,  and  listen  to  such 
sounds,  week  after  week  and  not  give  way  to  despair.  Only 
the  grace  of  God  can  uphold  one  in  these  conditions. 

“Again,  the  almost  hopeless  helplessness  of  the  people,  was 
extremely  discouraging.  If  one  could  take  one  church  and 
teach  and  help  the  people  till  they  could  intelligently  help 
themselves,  the  work  would  seem  less  hopeless,  but  to  be  able 
to  spend  at  best  only  a  few  hours  at  each  village,  and  then, 
when  weary  of  travel,  the  task  of  relief  is  a  disheartening 
one. 

“In  jungle  work  she  also  showed  qualities  not  always  found 
in  her  sisters,  viz:  special  physical  and  moral  courage.  She 
braved  dangers  which  her  associates  often  thought  hazardous. 
Then  tests  of  nerve-force  often  happened  in  our  travels  through 
the  jungles.  As  an  instance,  we  were  going  to  an  Association, 
three  days  travel  distant  from  the  city.  A  severe  storm  of 
wind  and  rain  followed  us  for  two  days,  and  the  mountain 
slopes  were  made  very  dangerous  for  pony  traveling.  Often¬ 
times  her  horse  retained  his  footing  with  great  difficulty,  but 


13 


she  clung  bravely  to  him.  Suddenly  the  accident  we  feared, 
happened.  In  a  steep  place,  the  pony  lost  his  footing,  and 
the  rider  was  thrown  to  the  ground,  the  pony  slipping  and 
rolling  down  the  mountain  side. 

“We  expected  she  had  suffered  serious  injury,  but  no,  she 
sprang  up,  laughing,  though  covered  from  head  to  foot  with 
yellow  mud,  into  which  she  had  fallen.  She  had  succeeded 
in  throwing  herself  on  the  upper  side,  so  had  escaped  harm. 
Her  good  nature  and  patience  never  seemed  to  desert  her 
under  these  hardships  and  dangers,  but  rather  rose  with  the 
difficulties  she  met. 

“ Another  instance  of  her  courage  and  devotion  was  shown 
in  her  work  in  Yah-Do.  This  village  is  almost  eighty  miles 
north-east  from  Toungoo  city.  On  account  of  its  situation 
it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  our  work.  During  the  late 
war,  in  the  taking  of  Upper  Burma,  this  place  was  especially 
exposed  to  danger.  The  disciples  were  disheartened  ;  there 
was  danger  of  losing  the  place. 

“Miss  Ambrose  had  spent  the  previous  year  there,  alone, 
keeping  up  the  school,  and  in  the  year  in  question,  so  great 
was  the  need,  that  she  could  not  rest,  unless  at  her  post  in 
Yah-Do,  and,  so,  much  against  the  wishes  of  her  associates, 
she  undertook  to  live  again  among  the  people,  though  the 
village  was  often  fired  upon  in  the  night.  She  remained 
faithfully  at  her  post,  until  called  away  by  the  government 
officers,  lest  harm  should  come  to  her,  and  the  Government 
be  blamed. 

“Deep  consecration  and  trust  in  her  Lord,  only,  could  have 
have  enabled  her,  naturally  so  delicate  and  shrinking,  to  have 
endured  such  responsibilities  and  braved  such  dangers.” 


14 


We  are  so  fortunate  as  to  have  from  Miss  Ambrose*  own 
hand,  pictures  and  incidents  of  jungle  life  during  Jan.  and 
Feb.  1893  :  “ Would  that  I  could  give  you  a  full  account  of 

our  two  Associations,  the  house  to  house  visiting  of  twenty- 
five  villages,  women’s  meetings  and  children’s  meetings,  with 
all  their  promise  of  good.  The  Southern  Association  opened 
January  25,  the  Northern,  Feb.  8,  and  both  were  distant 
from  the  city  two  days  journey.  On  drawing  near  the  camp¬ 
ing  ground,  it  was  pleasant  to  see  a  ‘Welcome*  in  Karen  and 
English,  suspended  over  our  pathway.  A  large  bamboo  tab¬ 
ernacle  had  been  erected,  surrounded  by  little  bamboo  shel¬ 
ters,  here  and  there,  to  accommodate  those  in  attendance, 
also  a  larger  one  for  the  tents  of  the  missionaries,  and  bamboo 
tables  arranged  for  holding  books  and  medicines  for  the 
teachers  to  take  with  them  on  returning  home.  Neither  of 
the  Associations  had  its  usual  attendance,  owing  to  the  scar¬ 
city  of  food  on  the  mountains.  The  church  letter  from 
nearly  every  village  uttered  the  same  cry — ‘no  paddy,* — yet 
their  trust  in  God  failed  not. 

“The  lack  of  food  must  of  necessity  hurt  the  school  work, 
as  the  people  cannot  supply  the  teachers  rice  ;  and  again, 
the  children  are  wanted  to  dig  wild  roots  and  pick  leaves  to 
satisfy  hunger.  The  schools  that  had  gathered  here  seemed 
to  pleasantly  vie  with  each  other  in  singing  select  pieces.  In 
the  Northern  Association  this  singing  was  unusually  fine,  so 
good  that  it  stirred  the  whole  assembly.  It  was  suggested 
that  one  evening  be  spent  musically,  but  the  committee  deci¬ 
ded  the  time  could  not  be  given,  the  audience  playfully 
insisted  that  the  committee  (thirteen  staid  elderly  men)  favor 
it  with  a  song.  These  worthies  rose,  and  in  their  quaint  way, 
sang,  ‘All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus*  name.* 


15 


“There  was  a  deep  missionary  spirit  throughout  the  meet¬ 
ings.  One  of  the  pioneer  teachers  spoke  with  beaming  face, 
of  how  God  had  led  his  people  from  the  beginning  of  mission 
work  in  Toungoo  till  the  present.  Again  and  again  teachers 
were  obliged  to  flee  from  their  posts,  but  by  persistently 
returning,  what  are  now  our  most  active  Christian  villages 
were  won  from  heathenism  to  Christ.  So  there  is  cause  for 
hope  and  patient  endurance  with  the  many  heathen  villages 
in  which  faithful  teachers  are  now  toiling. 

“The  last  Association  over.  Miss  Anderson  and  I  journeyed 
to  other  churches,  spending  one  night  at  each  village.  At 
the  close  of  the  usual  evening  service,  it  was  our  custom  to 
urge  all  to  read  the  Bible  daily,  not  simply  on  Sunday,  as 
many  have  been  doing  ;  to  commune  often  with  God;  to  give 
up  the  filthy  habit  of  betel-nut  chewing,  for  Christ's  sake  ; 
to  permit  their  children,  especially  the  girls,  to  attend  school; 
and  lastly,  urging  the  men  to  be  ready  to  bear  the  heavy  bur¬ 
dens  of  life  themselves,  that  the  mothers,  wives  and  daugh¬ 
ters  may  have  time  to  do  the  work  properly  belonging  to 
them.  Our  words  always  received  the  closest  attention. 
One  man  was  overheard  saying  to  his  companions,  ‘  She  talks 
to  us  like  a  mother.'  Such  advice  is  sadly  needed.  Climb¬ 
ing  a  bamboo  ladder  of  eight  feet  to  a  rickety,  open  veranda, 

I  asked,  ‘Is  any  one  within?'  ‘Is,'  was  the  reply,  and  I 
pushed  open  the  door  to  find  a  large,  strong  man  with  a  baby 
in  his  arms.  He  sat  on  the  floor  with  his  feet  in  the  ashes  ; 
unwashed  cooking  chatties  were  scattered  about,  and  general 
disorder  prevailed.  I  sat  down  by  him,  and  after  admiring 
the  bright-eyed  child,  that  would  have  been  pretty,  had  it 
been  clean,  talked  with  him  of  his  soul.  Soon  his  wife  came 


16 


toiling  up  the  ladder,  with  fully  an  eighth  of  a  cord  of  wood 
.in  a  heavy  basket  on  her  back,  suspended  by  a  strap  across 
her  head.  Throwing  down  her  load,  she  came  in  dripping 
with  perspiration,  and  at  once  the  child  was  put  in  her  arms. 
On  another  occasion,  a  robust  brawny  man  was  found  in  the 
house  tending  an  infant  two  days  old,  while  the  wife  and 
mother  was  below  pounding  out  the  rice — very,  very  hard 
work.  Such  are  some  of  the  wrongs  of  our  sisters,  even 
among  the  churches,  which  it  is  our  privilege  by  patient 
teaching  to  try  to  correct. 

“In  a  village  where  there  were  only  a  few  Christians,  but 
twenty-two  heathen  f ami] ies  given  over  to  drink,  withholding 
their  children  from  school,  there  was  heavy  work  to  be  done. 
Miss  Anderson,  accompanied  by  the  village  teacher,  visited 
every  house,  while  I  ‘  stayed  by  the  stuff/  and  plead  with 
those  who  came  to  our  tent  to  turn  to  Jesus  and  give  up  their 
evil  ways.  As  a  result,  we  were  rewarded  by  the  pledge  that 
nearly  all  of  the  children  would  be  sent  to  school.  There  is 
reason  to  hope  that  a  reform  has  been  made  in  more  than  one 
line.  Here  we  were  cheered  by  meeting  one  of  our  old  school 
girls,  whose  house  was  a  model  of  neatness.  The  next  day 
we  met  two  of  our  former  school  hoys,  whose  consecration  to 
the  Lord  was  beautiful  to  behold. 

“Not  only  in  the  villages,  but  often  by  the  wayside  did  we 
meet  with  blessings  and  opportunities  for  doing  good.  One 
morning,  while  halting  for  breakfast,  a  man  passing  stopped 
to  speak  with  our  helpers.  Learning  that  he  was  Karen,  we 
addressed  him  and  found  that  he  was  a  Christian  and  that 
his  was  one  of  the  two  Christian  families  left  in  a  certain 
village  reported  at  the  Association.  We  urged  him  not  to  be 


17 


discouraged,  and  reminded  him  if  they  would  daily  read 
God’s  Word,  and  be  much  in  prayer,  they  would  not  fail,  but 
would  instead  be  a  light  to  their  heathen  neighbors.  He 
said,  ‘None  but  my  two  boys  can  read,  and  I  will  keep  one  at 
home  to  read  the  Bible  for  us,  the  other  I  will  send  to  the 
city  to  school  next  year/ 

“Near  the  end  of  our  "journey,  we  were  weary  one  day  with 
the  steep  mountain-climbing,  and  also  from  the  loss  of  sleep, 
the  night  before,  on  account  of  a  tiger  scare.  We  stopped 
beside  a  beautiful  stream,  the  waters  just  above  us  came 
tumbling  down  over  large  rocks  in  one  mad  frolic,  then  scam¬ 
pered  olf  in  by  paths  as  if  playing  ‘  hide  and  seek/  then  all 
were  reunited  in  solid  ranks  as  the  stream  flowed  swiftly 
onward. 

“Here,  while  resting,  two  boys  who  had  come  another  route 
from  the  city,  overtook  us.  They  brought  a  fresh  supply  of 
food,  but  best  of  all  the  home  mail  of  two  weeks.  Hungry 
for  both,  especially  the  letters,  they  were  indeed  welcome, 
and  we  were  soon  refreshed  in  body  and  spirit.  We  reached 
the  city  again  Feb.  25th,  grateful  for  privileges  enjoyed.” 

In  this  simple  recital  of  good  work  done — with  self  left 
out — of  erring  ones  reclaimed,  of  ignorant  ones  instructed, 
of  fainting  hearts  encouraged  and  sustained,  of  burdened 
women  blessed  and  uplifted,  and  little  children  soothed  and 
loved  and  comforted,  does  not  Dr.  Bunker’s  clear  estimate 
of  Miss  Ambrose’  devoted  life  impress  us  with  increasing 
force:  “Many  times  when  weary  from  hard  journeys  over 
the  rough  mountains,  in  reaching  a  Christian  village  she  has 
often,  after  a  little  refreshment,  gone  out  into  the  village 
among  the  women  and  children  to  talk  of  the  blessed  Master, 


18 


weary  as  she  was.  In  her  zeal  and  love  she  reminded  me 
often  of  Jesus  at  the  well  of  Samaria.  She  was  also  perfectly 
fearless  in  the  discharge  of  her  duties — in  her  display  of 
truest  courage  she  was  exceptional.  f  The  bravest  woman  I 
ever  knew/  ” 


IV. 


“On  your  life- way,  plant  wherever  you  can,  instead  of  the  thorn, 
the  fir-tree,  instead  of  the  brier,  the  myrtle.  Show  by  your  faithful 
culture  that  flowers,  the  very  flowers  of  heaven,  can  bloom  among  the 
busiest  paths  that  it  may  be  yours  to  tread.” 

Ik  Miss  Eastmaffis  reminiscences  of  the  “life  way”  which 
she  and  Miss  Ambrose  trod  together,  it  will  be  seen  that  in 
their  “busiest  paths”  the  flowers  of  heaven  were  made  to 
bloom.  She  says,  “  My  acquaintance  with  Emma  Ambrose 
began  in  December  1873,  when  on  her  first  arrival  in  Burma 
I  met  her  in  Bangoon  and  accompanied  her  up  the  river  to 
her  future  home  in  Toungoo.  From  the  hour  of  our  first 
meeting  to  the  day  of  her  death,  I  always  found  her  a  cheer¬ 
ful  companion,  and  one  of  the  most  unselfish  and  faithful 
friends.  In  the  months  that  followed  soon  after  her  coming, 
when  we  two  were  left  alone  in  the  Bghai  department,  she 
was  a  wise  counsellor. 

“As  a  missionary  she  was  indefatigable  in  labor,  always 
prompt  and  efficient,  equal  to  all  emergencies.  She  had 
unusual  ability  as  an  organizer.  She  could  set  the  natives  at 
work,  giving  each  his  place  and  task,  making  wise  selections, 
and  could  keep  the  machinery  running  smoothly.  She  could 
also  make  herself  companionable  with  the  natives  in  an 
unusual  degree,  entering  into  their  thoughts  and  feelings. 
Whether  among  the  school  children  in  our  own  compound, 
or  on  the  long  journey  over  the  mountains,  or  in  the  Karen 

19 


20 


villages,  she  would  have  a  group  around  her,  chatting  famili¬ 
arly  on  every  day  matters,  or  talking  earnestly  of  the  things 
of  God  and  His  Kingdom.  As  a  Christian,  she  walked  hum¬ 
bly  with  God,  strong  in  faith  and  love. 

“In  recalling  the  months  and  years  of  our  intimate  friend¬ 
ship,  perhaps  our  first  journey  together,  and  our  last,  stand 
out  most  distinctly  in  the  pages  of  memory.  The  first  was 
a  journey  of  twelve  days  in  a  Burman  boat,  down  the  Ran¬ 
goon  river,  through  the  canal,  and  up  the  Sittang.  It  began 
one  sunny  afternoon.  When  we  stepped  into  a  sampan 
which  conveyed  us  to  our  boat,  anchored  further  down  the 
river.  It  was  a  brief  period  of  freedom  from  cares  and  res¬ 
ponsibilities,  which  were  soon  to  press  upon  us  very  heavily. 
With  her,  a  large  portion  of  each  day  was  spent  in  studying 
the  Karen,  but  in  the  evenings,  at  our  meals,  and  in  the 
intervals  of  study,  we  had  much  pleasant  conversation. 

“Miss  Ambrose  showed  a  real  appreciation  of  everything 
that  was  beautiful  in  the  scenery  or  pleasant  in  her  surround¬ 
ings,  and  the  many  discomforts  of  the  journey  were  forgotten 
or  ignored.  This  was  particularly  marked  on  our  arrival  at 
our  destination. 

“The  large  barn-like  house  had  been  unoccupied  during 
my  absence,  save  by  the  Karens  left  in  charge.  We  could 
not  tell  definitely  at  what  hour  we  should  arrive,  consequently 
no  preparation  had  been  made  for  our  coming.  We  reached 
the  last  curve  of  the  river  a  little  below  the  town,  just  as  the 
dusk  was  falling,  and  before  we  reached  our  landing-place, 
the  last  glimmerings  of  day  had  departed.  We  made  our 
way  to  the  house,  which,  so  far  as  we  could  see,  was  total 
darkness.  But  soon  a  feeble  light  appeared  from  a  distant 


21 


corner,  where  the  Karens  had  gathered  around  their  little 
cocoanut-oil  lamp  in  the  room  which  was  afterwards  Emma’s. 
To  me  the  place  looked  exceedingly  dismal  and  forlorn,  and 
it  must  have  seemed  even  more  so  to  her  on  this  her  first 
introduction  to  her  new  home — hut  she  accepted  everything 
with  cheerful  courage,  and  with  the  help  of  our  Karens,  we 
soon  had  our  home  more  home-like. 

“The  last  journey  was  in  March,  1890,  when  it  having 
been  decided  that  I  must  return  to  America,  Miss  Ambrose 
volunteered  to  accompany  me  from  Wah-thau-co,  (one  of  our 
out-stations),  where  we  with  several  others  were  spending 
the  hot  season — first  to  Toungoo  and  then  to  Rangoon.  Her 
generous  offer  was  gratefully  accepted,  though  with  much 
reluctance,  for  her  own  health  was  failing,  and  the  risk  to 
her  of  making  that  long,  hard  journey  at  that  season,  and  of 
exchanging  the  cool  mountain  air  for  that  of  the  plain,  was 
great.  But  there  seemed  no  alternative.  For  me  to  stay 
was  certain  death,  and  I  was  much  too  feeble  to  take  any 
part  in  making  the  necessary  preparations  for  the  long  voy¬ 
age.  With  the  usual  confidence  in  the  Lord’s  guidance  and 
in  His  power  to  sustain  and  give  strength,  she  undertook  the 
task,  devoting  herself  to  me  with  unwearied  kindness  and 
devotion. 

“The  journey  down  the  mountain  occupied  four  days.  I 
was  carried  in  a  hammock.  Emma  and  Hr.  Johnson  walked 
much  of  the  way,  mounting  their  ponies  when  walking  be¬ 
came  too  wearisome.  One  incident  of  the  journey  illustrates 
several  traits  of  her  character.  We  had  rested  during  the 
day  in  the  house  of  one  of  our  Karen  Christians,  and  at  five 
o’clock  resumed  our  journey.  Dr.  Johnson  hastened  on  with 


22 


the  Karen  coolies  to  prepare  our  camping  place  for  the  night. 
Emma  observed  that  one  of  the  Karen  girls  was  footsore  from 
the  journey,  and  dismounted  from  her  pony  to  put  the  girl 
in  her  place.  But  the  girl  was  timid  and  the  pony  restive  ; 
so  the  experiment  was  not  a  success.  Leaving  the  girl  with 
her  companions.  Miss  Ambrose  remounted  and  tried  to  over¬ 
take  the  party  with  me  ;  but  the  road  was  so  rough  she  could 
go  no  faster  than  a  walk.  Meantime  my  bearers,  as  usual, 
had  pressed  steadily  forward,  so  as  the  darkness  gathered  she 
found  herself  entirely  alone  in  the  forest.  After  dark  there 
is  great  risk  from  wild  animals  to  any  one  alone  in  the  jungle. 
Her  first  feeling  of  dismay  was  speedily  overcome  by  the 
thought —  ‘I  am  not  alone  ;  the  Lord  Himself  is  with  me.’ 
As  we,  who  had  reached  our  stopping  place,  were  wondering 
what  had  detained  her,  she  appeared  among  us,  as  bright  and 
helpful  as  ever. 

“When  we  reached  Toungoo,  with  her  usual  systematic 
diligence,  she  set  about  the  packing  and  other  needed  work, 
giving  to  the  Karens  such  tasks  as  they  could  do,  but  doing 
more  herself.  Eleven  years  before,  our  journey  from  Rangoon 
by  boat  had  taken  about  twelve  days,  this  time  our  journey 
to  Rangoon  by  train  occupied  about  eleven  hours.  A  day 
was  spent  there  in  final  preparation,  and  on  the  morning  of 
March  29,  1890,  when  she  had  comfortably  placed  me  in  my 
steamer  chair,  on  the  deck  of  the  Zeriaiserion,  we  parted,  to 
meet  no  more  on  earth." 

After  their  return  to  Toungoo,  Miss  Ambrose  was  attacked 
with  cholera,  which  brought  her  very  close  to  death,  but  the 
faithful  care  of  Miss  Anderson  and  others  at  the  station,  with 
God’s  blessing,  saved  her  for  this  needed  work. 


23 


As  soon  as  she  was  able,  they  moved  into  their  new  home, 
made  comfortable  by  Miss  Anderson's  loving  thought.  She 
says,  “The  next  day,  Sunday,  was  indeed  a  day  of  dedication 
from  morn  till  night;  the  Holy  Spirit  has  entered  our  new 
home  with  us,  and  ‘All  for  Jesus/  is  stamped  upon  all  we 
have  and  are.  It  is  delightful  to  feel  that  everything,  great 
and  small,  is  consecrated  to  His  service.  I  can  see,"  she  says 
in  a  letter  written  to  her  brother  at  this  time,  “that  there  is 
one  great  good  gained  by  writing  to  the  loved  ones  at  home, 
when  affliction  comes  and  God  raises  us  from  it,  it  is  a  pleas¬ 
ure  to  praise  Him  together  for  His  kindness.  God  is  good. 
We  sometimes  try  to  enumerate  the  many  blessings  that  we 
are  daily  enjoying,  but  we  never  succeed  in  reaching  the  end. 
As  busy  as  busy  can  be,  from  morning  till  night,  yet  our 
hearts  are  filled  with  joy  and  thanksgiving.  He  bears  our 
burdens  for  us,  so  of  course  everything  goes  well.  I  am 
grateful  for  the  many  prayers  that  ascended  for  me  Oct.  24 — 
their  sweet  incense  will  follow  me  all  the  year." 

She  continued  to  improve  in  health  and  again  gave  all  her 
energy  to  the  work.  The  town  school  numbered  230  pupils, 
with  9  native  teachers.  Thus  we  come  to  the  beginning  of 
the  year  1893,  with  the  work  still  going  on,  and  yet  so  much 
to  be  accomplished,  feeling  that  we  can  say  in  Miss  Ambrose' 
own  words,  “  Only  a  slight  idea  of  what  God  is  doing  for  His 
kingdom  here  has  been  given,  but  all  cannot  be  told." 


y. 


“There  is  a  land  where  every  pulse  is  thrilling 
With  rapture  earth’s  sojourners  may  not  know, 

Where  heaven’s  repose  the  weary  heart  is  stilling, 

And  peacefully  life’s  storm-tossed  currents  flow. 

Thither  my  weak  and  weary  steps  are  tending. 

Savior  and  Lord!  with  Thy  frail  child  abide, 

Guide  me  toward  home  were,  all  my  wanderings  ending, 

I  shall  see  Thee,  and  “shall  be  satisfied.” 

To  Miss  Anderson  we  are  indebted  for  a  most  interesting 
account  of  the  last  year  of  Miss  Ambrose  earthly  life.  She 
says  :  “With  her  it  was  the  darkness  just  before  the  dawning, 
the  tossing  over  the  breakers  which  landed  her  at  last  safely 
on  the  peaceful  shore  of  the  home  land.  Many  a  wild  storm 
on  the  sea  of  life  had  she  encountered,  of  these  she  told  me 
some,  others  we  had  been  through  together.  We  looked  after 
her  with  longing  eyes,  and  would  have  gone  too,  had  the 
Father  called  us. 

“  The  beginning  of  that  last  year  may  be  marked  by  the 
sudden  death  of  one  of  our  school  boys,  over  whom  we  watched 
most  anxiously,  and  whose  death  resulted  in  the  breaking  up 
of  our  school  for  a  time.  Soon  after  she  became  subject  to 
malarial  fever  which  never  wholly  disappeared.  Still  she 
went  on  with  her  work,  and  was  greatly  interested  in  her 
daily  Bible  Class.  She  loved  her  pupils  and  constantly 
sought  to  bring  them  into  a  closer  walk  with  God,  but  she 
was  especially  anxious  about  three  little  boys  who  were  not 
Christians.  They  were  quite  little  fellows,  and  did  not  say 

24 


25 


much,  so  she  could  not  tell  what  impression  she  had  made 
upon  them.  Perhaps  it  may  be  of  interest  to  state  that  her 
talks  were  not  in  vain,  as  I  discovered  the  other  day  in  speak¬ 
ing  with  one  of  them.  I  said,  Theh-Wee,  do  you  know  that 
Miss  Ambrose  used  to  pray  that  you  might  become  a  Christ¬ 
ian?  Do  you  think  you  have  a  new  heart?  ‘  I  don't  know/ 
Well,  HI  ask  you  another  question — If  you  should  die  now, 
where  do  you  think  you  would  go?  ‘To  heaven/  Why  do 
you  think  so?  ‘Why,  if  Jesus  died  for  me,  I  would  go  there, 
wouldn't  I?'  Are  you  sure?  ‘Yes,  I  have  been  sure  ever 
since  Miss  Ambrose  told  me  so,  last  year/ 

“We  were  very  busy  and  had  no  time  to  be  together  except 
at  meals,  at  worship,  and  when  some  care  came  up  which  we 
took  to  the  Lord  in  prayer.  Often  we  claimed  great  bless¬ 
ings  in  the  strength  of  His  promise,  and  bavins:  received 

them,  together  we  praised  Him. 

“Her  prayers  at  family  worship  were  always  sweet  and 
uplifting ;  her  submissive  faith  and  nearness  to  God  appeared 

then.  One  morning  we  sang,  ‘Jesus,  Saviour,  pilot  me/  and 
I  discovered  it  was  new  to  her  ;  it  found  a  place  in  her  soul, 
where  it  remained  till  there  was  no  longer  need  of  a  pilot  for 
‘  life's  tempestuous  sea.'  A  favorite  picture  of  ‘Christ  stilling 
the  storm'  hung  over  her  bureau,  and  often  the  trustful  hum¬ 
ming  of  the  hymn  came  floating  over  into  my  room. 

“After  school  closed  in  Jan.  1893,  it  was  soon  time  to  go 
to  the  Association,  and  many,  many  things  must  be  thought 
of  and  done  by  way  of  preparation,  that  we  might  the  best 
serve  the  people  whom  we  should  meet.  At  last  we  found 
ourselves  fairly  started.  The  first  day  we  were  to  go  by  boat 
up  the  river,  and  oh  !  how  we  enjoyed  it.  Nothing  to  do  but 


26 


watch  the  water,  the  sky,  the  trees  and  each  other.  It  was 
our  time  of  rest  and  pleasure.  At  night,  however,  Miss 
Ambrose  complained  of  not  feeling  as  well  as  usual.  It  was 
the  beginning  of  an  attack  of  La  Grippe  which  made  life  a 
burden  all  through  the  meeting.  Her  illness  delayed  our 
going  to  the  Northern  Association  as  soon  as  we  had  planned. 

“We  intended  to  leave  home  in  time  to  visit  some  churches 
on  the  way,  and  then  after  the  Association  to  travel  among 
the  Northern  churches.  But  all  our  plans  were  threatened, 
and  knowing  what  inconvenience  that  would  be  to  others  and 
what  opportunities  we  would  lose,  we  made  bold  to  ask  God 
to  heal  her,  and  let  us  do  the  travelling.  Accordingly,  we 
went,  and  although  she  was  not  well,  yet  when  the  meetings 
were  over  and  we  began  our  proposed  trip,  her  sickness  dis¬ 
appeared  and  in  one  day’s  time  all  her  strength  came  back. 
She  remarked  that  she  had  never  felt  stronger  in  all  her  life. 

“The  good  that  was  done  during  the  next  two  weeks,  can¬ 
not  I  think  be  estimated.  Continually,  we  had  cause  for 
thanksgiving.  Now  and  then  through  the  year,  when  we  had 
been  especially  tired,  we  had  asked  each  other,  ‘Where  shall 
we  spend  the  hot  season?’  Other  years  we  had  been  at  Yad- 
do,  but  there  the  work  is  almost  as  steady  ard  wearing  as  here 
in  town  and  Miss  Ambrose  certainly  needed  a  rest.  We  prayed 
over  it  and  when  a  letter  came  from  Mr.  Morrow,  inviting  us 
to  come  to  Momnagon,  we  decided  to  go  there.  Miss  Am¬ 
brose  had  always  longed  to  visit  the  sea-shore;  she  was  as 
pleased  in  the  anticipation  as  a  little  child,  nor  was  her  enjoy¬ 
ment  lessened  when  her  wish  was  realized.  Friends,  who 
were  with  us  will  remember  her  perfect  delight  with  every¬ 
thing.  One  drawback  only  and  that  was  an  attack  of  the  old 


27 


trouble.  Greatly  refreshed,  we  returned  home  in  time  for  the 
Teacher’s  Meeting  and  the  beginning  of  school  the  first  of 
J  une. 

“One  week  after  school  began,  everything  was  in  beautiful 
running  order,  and  no  one  was  sick,  but  with  the  coming  of 
the  rains  came  sickness.  Dr.  Johnson  was  ever  ready  with 
his  most  excellent  counsel,  but  of  course  the  nursing  of  the 
girls  fell  to  us,  and  in  three  weeks  time  there  had  been  no  less 
than  sixty  cases,  some  of  which  lasted  two  weeks  or  more. 
After  many  disappointed  hopes,  in  regard  to  each  case,  it  be¬ 
came  disheartening. 

“No  one  who  has  not  tried  it  can  form  any  idea  of  the  situa¬ 
tion — a  storm  at  sea  may  be  like  it.  The  sick  must  be  cared 
for  and  still  school  go  on;  without  the  sickness  our  time  is 
full.  I  saw  a  look  come  over  Miss  Ambrose’  face  one  day 
when  she  was  giving  medicine  to  the  sick,  that  went  to  my 
heart,  and  I  said  to  myself,  ‘Oh!  if  she  could  get  away  now. 
If  somebody  could  only  step  right  in  and  lift  all  this  care 
from  her  shoulders.  Is  she  could  onlv  blot  Burma  out  of 
her  mind  for  one  week  and  rest  in  one  of  our  nice  homes  at 
home!’  Was  that  the  turning  point  from  life  to  death?  I 
fear  it  was.  The  rest  was  very  near. 

On  Julv  13,  these  words  were  written  to  Mrs.  Bacon  of  the 
Board,  by  Mrs.  Johnson,  of  Toungoo  :  “Miss  Ambrose  lies 
very  ill.  Cholera  has  not  come  to  Toungoo  this  year,  but  we 
have  epidemic  dysentery,  which  is  almost  as  bad.  There  have 
been  seventy-five  cases  for  treatment,  the  nursing  of  the  girls 
must  fall  upon  the  ladies,  and  it  is  far  more  difficult  to  care 
for  a  sick  person  here  than  at  home.  Miss  Ambrose,  with  her 
usual  self-sacrificing  spirit,  took  all  that  upon  herself,  and 


28 


when  the  disease  became  epidemic,  took  all  the  girls  into  her 
own  house.  She  would  not  even  permit  Miss  Anderson  to 
assist  in  this  care.  She  took  the  disease  and  has  been  very  ill 
one  week.” 

But  the  swifter  message  by  cable  had  already  come  :  “Am¬ 
brose  crowned,”  followed  by  another  letter  from  Mrs.  Johnson. 
“Miss  Ambrose  passed  away  this  morning  at  five  o’clock — 
July  20.  We  rejoice  in  her  happy  release  from  suffering  but 
for  ourselves  we  mourn  deeply.  We  have  lost  one  of  the 
noblest,  most  generous,  devoted  workers  it  has  ever  been  my 
privilege  to  know.  Her  reward  will  be  full  and  sweet.  Noth¬ 
ing  ever  was  too  difficult  or  dangerous  for  her,  and  she  never 
undertook  anything  with  the  air  of  a  martyr,  as  if  it  were  a 
cross,  or  even  a  duty.  It  seemed  to  be  a  joy ,  and  she  was 
always  glad  to  pour  out  her  life  and  strength  for  the  Lord 
Jesus  and  for  others. 

“In  her  delirium  she  talked  incessantly  of  her  work  and  of 
‘going  home.’  She  had  before  this  expressed  her  earnest  wish 
that  she  might  never  be  sent  to  America  again.  She  preferred 
to  go  home  to  heaven  in  the  midst  of  her  labors.  Our  Father 
has  but  granted  her  request,  and  it  is  left  for  us  to  ask  that 
her  life  may  impress  itself  upon  these  Karens,  and  her  death 
be  the  means  of  great  good  to  them.” 

Can  any  one  doubt  that  such  a  life  could  fail  to  leave  its 
indelible  impress  upon  every  soul  who  had  felt  its  holy  pur¬ 
pose  and  pure  benediction  ? 

Miss  Anderson  gives  us  this  touching  account  of  the  “going 
home.”  “It  was  Saturday  evening,  the  8th,  after  having  ex¬ 
hausted  her  strength  in  caring  for  the  sick  girls,  that  she 
herself  was  stricken  with  the  prevailing  disease.  Prompt 


29 


measures  were  taken  for  relief,  but  without  avail.  Soon  her 
mind  wandered,  and  she  was  ‘going  home/  Her  fancy  proved 
for  us  sorrowing  ones,  only  too  true. 

“It  was  just  as  the  light  of  dawn  broke  through  the  eastern 
clouds  on  the  morning  of  the  20th  that  her  spirit  passed  from 
earth,  and  the  eternal  day  dawned  for  her  in  heaven.  Through¬ 
out  her  sickness  she  had  been  comforted  in  hearing  choice 
words  from  the  Bible  and  in  praying.  One  night  I  knelt  be¬ 
side  her  to  pray  and  before  I  could  begin,  she  herself  was 
praying — it  was  too  pathetic — all  day  long  her  mind  had  wan¬ 
dered,  and  she  had  not  been  right  in  any  thing,  but  when  it 
came  to  her  relation  to  God  nothing  was  changed.  I  have 
noticed  since  my  acquaintance  with  her,  that  no  thought 
brought  so  much  joy  to  her  heart  as  that  of  Jesus’ everlasting 
love,  and  our  home  above.  She  often  said,  ‘If  I  could  know 
that  I  need  not  be  sick  a  long  time,  a  hindrance  to  the  mis¬ 
sionaries,  I  could  wish  with  all  my  heart  that  I  might  die  in 
the  work/  She  had  that  wish  literally  fulfilled.  Her  body 
was,  on  the  morning  of  the  21st,  reverently  borne  to  the  cem¬ 
etery  by  those  for  whom  she  had  prayed  and  labored/-’ 

“So  others  shall  take  patience,  labor  to  their  heart  and  hand, 
From  thy  hands  and  thy  heart,  and  thy  brave  cheer, 

And  God’s  grace  fructify  through  thee  to  all  ; 

The  least  flower  with  a  brimming  cup 
May  stand  and  share  its  dew  drop 
With  another  near.” 

Of  Miss  Ambrose’s  last  days,  one  has  said  :  “  Our  admira¬ 
tion  for  her  sterling  worth  grew  to  the  last.  Few  missionaries 
have  a  better  record  than  she.  The  conditions  of  her  service 
for  the  Karen  people,  were  of  a  nature  to  bring  out  all  her 
strength  of  character,  and  the  last  years  were  marked  by  great 


30 


spiritual  growth — she  seemed  to  be  ripening  for  a  better  life. 
Her  health  began  to  fail  several  years  ago,  some  time  before 
she  was  called  to  her  rest,  and  we  had  fears  that  she  would 
not  remain  long  with  us.  Her  perseverance  in  her  loved  work 
under  great  bodily  infirmity  was  marvelous.  Often  she  went 
cheerfully  on  with  *the  work  for  the  Karen  girls,  so  dear  to 
her,  when  we  thought  she  ought  to  be  in  bed,  continued  at 
one  time  till  she  fainted  at  the  door  from  excessive  weakness. 
She  seemed  to  know  that  she  had  not  many  years  to  live  and 
that  she  must  do  her  utmost  for  the  good  of  the  people  in  the 
short  time  alotted  to  her. 

“Perhaps  there  should  be  mentioned  here,  her  one  weakness 
in  all  her  work,  if  fault  it  was,  as  a  warning  to  like  workers. 
She  spared  not  herself.  Though  often  weak  in  body,  through 
her  infirmities,  and  greatly  needing  rest,  she  still  pressed  on 
whenever  her  work  needed  her  care,  even  to  the  point  of 
breaking  down.  She  could  not  be  persuaded  to  think  of  her 
own  health,  but  spent  her  strength  prodigally  to  the  last.  In 
the  attack  upon  her  loved  girls  of  an  epidemic  disease  peculiar 
to  this  country,  she  subjected  her  already  waning  strength  to 
too  great  a  strain,  and  succombed  to  the  disease  she  was  com¬ 
batting  among  her  girls.  This  shortened  her  life,  (perhaps). 
Who  can  tell  ?  What  she  did  was  unto  Christ  and  for  love’s 
sake.  It  is  not  always  the  longest  lives  that  are  the  best. 
Her  constant  ill  health,  while  apparently  a  great  affliction, 
proved  a  messenger  of  God  to  bring  her  into  most  intimate 
fellowship  with  Him.  One  could  not  associate  with  her  long 
without  feeling  that  she  had  obtained  f  power  for  service.’ 

“A  great  multitude  of  Karen  Christians  will  long  mourn 
our  ‘Mamma  Ambrose,’  and  her  grateful  associates,  grateful  * 


31 


for  her  help  and  companionship  so  long  enjoyed,  grateful  to 
God  for  her  noble  and  consecrated  life  and  example,  will  cher¬ 
ish  her  memory  till  life  ends.” 

Her  sorrowing  brother  writes  :  “She  was  such  an  example 
and  inspiration  to  me.  I  mourn  her  loss  to  the  cause  in 
Burma.  I  mourn  for  the  dear  and  simple  people  she  worked 
among  and  was  so  beloved  by.  I  mourn  for  her  generous 
co-laborers,  with  all  of  whom  she  enjoyed  such  sweet  and 
helpful  relations.” 

Thus,  from  these  sincere  and  earnest  tributes  can  we  see 
the  fulfillment  of  the  aspiration  of  this  woman’s  heart. 

‘‘May  I  reach  that  purest  heaven,  be  to  other  souls 
The  cup  of  strength  in  some  great  agony, 

Enkindle  generous  ardor,  feed  pure  love, 

Be  the  sweet  presence  of  a  good  diffused, 

So  shall  I  join  the  choir  invisible 
Whose  music  is  the  gladness  of  the  world.” 


C.  B. 


DATE  DUE 

SEP  1 S  1‘ 

GAYLORD 

PKINTCO  IN  USA 

